Century Prison Inmate Faces Four Attempted Murder Charges For Stabbing Four Fellow Inmates

September 5, 2024

A Century Correctional Institution inmate serving life has been charged with four counts of attempted murder of four fellow inmates.

Multiple inmates were reportedly stabbed during an incident on August 20, 2023. at the prison on Tedder Road.

According to a court documents, Harold Richard Bush, 52, was booked into the Escambia County Jail September 3, 2024, on four counts of attempted first degree murder in connection with the incident.

About 8:45 a.m. on August 20, 2023, the prison called Escambia County for ambulances for the injured inmates. Multiple units that responded from Escambia County EMS and D.W. McMillan EMS.

Two inmates were airlifted by medical helicopters, according to Escambia County.

“FDC staff observed four inmates with injuries at Century Correctional Institution. Two of the inmates were transported to an outside hospital for further evaluation,” the Florida Department of Corrections told NorthEscambia.com shortly after the incident. Further details were not provided.

Judge Jenny Kinsey ordered Bush held in the county jail.

Court records indicate that Bush was previously sentenced to life in prison in May 1998 for two counts of robbery with a firearm in Broward County, Florida, which occurred a year prior.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

Northview Chiefs Boys Golf Defeats West Florida, Washington And Escambia

September 5, 2024

In high school golf action on a wet Wednesday afternoon, the Northview High School Chiefs boys defeated West Florida, Washington and Escambia high schools at the Osceola Golf Course in Pensacola

Four Northview golfers placed individually:

1st place: Jack Boutwell, with a score of 38 overall.
2nd place: Jackson Bridges, finishing with a score of 39.
4th place: Luke Godwin, with a 41.

Pictured: The Northview High School golf team: Luke Godwin, Jack Boutwell, Kelan Jurey, Jackson Bridges, Jayden White, Miles Smith, and Coach Nicholas Shivers. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News, Sports, TOP sports

Here’s Where To Watch College Football This Weekend

September 5, 2024

Here is this week’s college football schedule and where to watch the games.

All times are Central.

Week 2

Thursday, Sept. 5

South Dakota Mines at Michigan Tech | 5 p.m. CST | FloSports
Central State (Ohio) at Grand Valley State | 5 p.m. CST | FloSports

Friday, Sept. 6

Saturday, Sept. 7

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News, Sports, TOP sports

Wahoos Gain Ground With 5-1, 10-Inning Win Over Barons

September 5, 2024

written by Erik Bremer

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos continued to chip away at their wild card deficit with a 5-1, 10-inning win over the Birmingham Barons on Wednesday night.

With the game deadlocked from the fourth inning on, the Blue Wahoos finally pulled ahead in the top of the 10th when a wild pitch from Eric Adler (L, 2-2) scored Johnny Olmstead from third base. Nathan Martorella followed with a booming three-run homer, adding insurance and continuing the Pensacola first baseman’s hot streak at the plate.

With the win, the Blue Wahoos gained ground on both the Biloxi Shuckers and Mississippi Braves in the hunt for a wild card playoff spot. The Blue Wahoos trail the Shuckers by 2.5 games and the Braves by 1.5 games with 10 to play in the regular season.

The game began with command issues for Blue Wahoos starter Evan Fitterer, who walked in a run in the second inning before wriggling out of a bases-loaded jam. Fitterer settled into a groove, ultimately working 5.0 innings of one-run ball.

The Blue Wahoos tied things up in the fourth on an Olmstead two-out RBI infield single, and kept the game tied with effective relief from Tyler Eckberg and Justin King.

After Woo-Suk Go (W, 2-1) sent the game to extras with a scoreless ninth, the Blue Wahoos quickly mounted a threat against Adler. The placed runner, Olmstead, advanced to third on a wild pitch before Shane Sasaki walked and stole second. Andrew Pintar drew a walk to load the bases before another wild pitch brought home the go-ahead run. Martorella then unloaded with a three-run homer, his 13th of the year and ninth since August 4.

Go worked around Birmingham’s placed runner to work a scoreless bottom of the 10th and seal the win.

The series continues Thursday in Birmingham, with a 7:00 CT.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News, Sports, TOP sports

Century Approves Tax Rate, $10.6 Million Budget But Details Shrouded In Mystery

September 4, 2024

Tuesday night, the Town of Century approved a tax rate and a $10.6 million budget for the next fiscal year. But the details of how they will spend the money remains a bit of a mystery that we can’t report due to unfulfilled public records requests.

Century approves tax rate (but makes mistakes on the details)

The town council approved a resolution establishing a final millage rate for 2024-2025, but made some apparent mistakes on the details.

The resolution read aloud by administrative assistant Mallory Walker before the vote differed from the resolution that was included with the agenda emailed August 30 to town council members and officials, along with local media. The email version stated the millage rate will be “.9204 mills (correct amount), which is greater than the rolled-back rate of 0.2423 mills (incorrect) by 290.66% (incorrect based upon actual amount)”.

According to the resolution read aloud before the affirmative vote, the “operating millage rate is .9204 mills, which is greater than the rolled-back rate of 0.9781 mills by 5.900%.”

While the council voted to approve the resolution read as a property tax increase of 5.9%, that’s not actually the case. In math, 0.9204 is not greater than 0.9781. Under the state’s definition, the town did not raise taxes.

State law establishes a procedure for correcting for mere typographical or inadvertent mistakes (also known as a“scrivener’s error”). Since the written version of the approved resolution was not provided in the agenda packet nor at the town hall Tuesday night, we can’t verify what it actually stated in writing compared to the verbal statements.

The Mystery: Where’s documentation on how millions will be spent?

Since August 30, NorthEscambia.com has asked for a copy of the complete tentative budget for 2024-2025, which provides details supporting the income and expenditures in a one-page summary that the town sent us (pictured above). For example, Century’s 2023-2024 complete budget contains 14 pages of small print with great detail on how they arrived at the budget, plus a 5-year historical comparison.

When we asked at the meeting, we were told by council members that they had received a copy of the complete budget before the vote. The complete budget was not available to the public at the meeting or on the town’s website.

“Why was there no copy available to the public before tonight? You’re approving numbers. The public has no idea what you’re approving,” NorthEscambia.com Publisher William Reynolds asked during the meeting.

Mayor Luis Gomez, Jr. said NorthEscambia.com had provided everything the council has. But that information was never sent, leaving us and the public without any detailed explanation of how the town plans to spend millions — from water wells to salaries and everything in between. We will further explore the mayor’s comments and our public records requests in an upcoming story.

Century approves $10.6 million budget

The Century Town Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve a tentative $10.6 million budget for fiscal year 2024-2025, which starts October 1.

The budget summary states, “The proposed operating budget for this fiscal year is 43%greater than the previous year’s budget due to additional grants.”. Without a complete budget, we can’t tell you what those grant funds are that were included in the budget, or if any of monies were part of the approximately $15.6 million in grants the state terminated, which also included $12.8 million the state pulled from the town “due to financial and fiscal solvency issues the Town is facing“, according to that state agency FloridaCommerce in an email.

The 2024-2025 budget includes an increase of $2,434,114 in both the total budget and the total expenditures of $10,607,009 this fiscal year compared to $8,172,895 last fiscal year. (Mathematically, that’s actually a 29.78% increase, not the $43% stated in writing by the town.)

The town is budgeting for roughly the same amount of income from franchise fees ($170,000) and from licenses, reviews and permits ($10,700), and an increase of $30,937 from “miscellaneous revenue” into the general fund. No explanation of increase is available without the complete budget documentation.

The new budget shows $7,891,884 in income from the “Enterprise Fund” into the general fund, and increase of over three million in additional estimated revenue over last year… In past years, the Enterprise Fund has been comprised of the bills paid by residents for natural gas and sanitation services, along with additional grants. Without a copy of the full budget, we can’t provide complete details.

The town plans to transfer $691 ,503 into their budget from their reserve funds — $554,449 from the “Special Revenue Fund” and $137,054 from the CRA. In October 2018, the council approved a Tax Increment Financing plan for their redevelopment area, allowing the CRA to receive property tax revenues each year in excess of an established base rate. The appraised value of the property within the designated district was “frozen” in 2018, with that amount of tax revenue generated still designated for the town’s general fund, the county and other taxing authorities. The CRA funds are meant to improve a “blighted” area of Century. Without that budget summary, we can’t provide specifics on how or why the reserves — much like a savings account — are being spent next fiscal year.

The town budget shows $2,634,655 will be spent on “general government services”, an increase of over $1.6 million over last year — $1,633,528 to be exact — over last year. Last year, general government services fund was budgeted to be spent on items like day-to-day operations, building maintenance, executive salaries, vehicle expenses, Christmas hams and turkeys, fuel and other employee salaries and expenses like taxes and insurance. Again, we can’t tell you where Century plans to spend an extra $1.6 million without a complete budget.

The town has budgeted $1,671,719 for “Physical Environment”, a decrease of just over $2 million from the enterprise fund — the gas and garbage bills paid by citizens and grants. Since the town did not provide a complete budget, we can’t tell you exactly what this $1.671 million will be spent on. (It’s not obvious how the fund was spent from last year’s budget either. There is no supporting documentation in last year’s budget for a $3.725 million “Physical Environment” fund or any definition.)

This year’s budget shows $5,793,001 in grant expenditures for the enterprise fund. There was no explanation available; that information would be in the complete budget Century would not provide. But we do know the town has received grants for the sewage treatment plant, lift stations and water wells.

Pictured: Tuesday night’s Century Town Council meeting. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Sports

Pine Meadow Elementary PTA Presents Sherry White With Honorary Lifetime Membership

September 4, 2024

The Pine Meadow Elementary PTA recently honored Sherry White with an honorary life membership at their most recent volunteer appreciation breakfast. This award recognized White’s contributions to the PTA community and her unwavering dedication to the school.

White has been an active member of the PTA for many years, serving on the board and volunteering countless hours to support the school’s initiatives. Her positive spirit and commitment to the school’s students have made a lasting impact.

“Her dedication as a board member, her countless hours of volunteering, and her unwavering support in teacher classrooms have made a significant impact,” the PTA said.

Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under FEATURE TOP STORY, Features, News

Winning Fantasy 5 Ticket Worth Over $100,000 Sold At Pine Forest Walmart Market

September 4, 2024

Someone is over $100,000 richer today after purchasing a winning Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket at an area store.

The ticket sold at the Walmart at Nine Mile and Pine Forest roads was the only winning tickets in the September 2 evening drawing and is worth $106,064.64.

The winning numbers were 16-21-23-24-26.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

UPDATE: Highway 29 Southbound To I-10 Detour Delayed Until September 16

September 4, 2024

The Florida Department of Transportation has delayed the new configuration for the I-10 and Highway 29 interchange that was due to take place Tuesday. Due to inclement weather, the change is now scheduled for Monday, September 16.,

On September 16, drivers from Highway 29 southbound will be detoured to a temporary on-ramp to access I-10 eastbound. The temporary on-ramp will allow crews to reconstruct the interchange, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.

FDOT reminds drivers that the Highway 29 northbound ramp to I-10 eastbound is also closed. Highway 29 northbound drivers will continue north and make a U-turn at Broad Street onto U.S. 29 southbound to access I-10 eastbound. Directional signage is in place to direct drivers through the work zone.

The $236 million project to construct all-new I-10 travel lanes and about a dozen bridges is expected to be complete by 2030. FDOT said 62,000 commuters travel through the corridor daily.

All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.

Click graphic to enlarge.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Archive

Horse Rescued From A Tight Spot In Cantonment

September 4, 2024

Escambia County Fire Rescue successfully rescued a large horse that had become wedged between a wall and the ground on Monday afternoon in Cantonment.

The incident occurred at approximately 2:37 p.m. in the 9800 block of Heather Drive. Upon arrival, firefighters found a 1,400-pound horse, named Raleigh, lying on his side, wedged against a wall and unable to move.

Using sling around Rayleigh’s torso, ECFR crews carefully maneuvered the horse away from the wall. The rescue operation was conducted with utmost care to ensure the safety of both the horse and the firefighters involved.

After several minutes of coordinated effort, Raleigh had enough room to move and wa able to stand back on its feet and walk around.

Assistance was provided by the Panhandle Equine Rescue, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and a “local cowboy”.

Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

Rainy Days Ahead Of A Cooler Weekend

September 4, 2024

The rest of the week promises less sunshine and more showers. Starting today, there’s a high chance of thunderstorms throughout the week. Rain is expected to be frequent, with the highest likelihood on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Temperatures will remain relatively warm, with highs in the 70s and 80s before cooling over the weekend.

Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:

Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. East wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. East wind 5 to 10 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. East wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Thursday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Friday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Northeast wind around 5 mph.

Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 80. North wind 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph after midnight.

Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 82.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 62.

Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 85.

Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 64.

Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 85.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Archive

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